Encore, Encore.

Alright people, if you missed Betty White's historical performance on Saturday Night Live, first of all you are an idiot. Secondly, she was a real class act. A five star entertainer. Sure they had her tell the same joke every sketch...but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Plus, the return of the women of SNL was a welcome addition. Maya Rudolph and her Whitney impression. Even Rachel Dratch in CSI Saratoga. Sure, it was a stupid sketch but seeing her again reminded me of the Welshly Arms skit with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. Loooovvvvaaahhh. God I miss when SNL was consistently good.

I digress, like I always do. Back to Betty.

In Ms. White's monologue, she thanked Facebook for it's integral part in getting her on the show. So, I decided that we, as the citizens of the United States of America, should start the next campaign to get another lovely woman of a certain age to host the show. In fact, this lady has so much in common with Betty White that I think it is a natural progression for Lorne Micheals to consider her in the 2011 season. Ladies and gentleman, I give you the wonderful, talented and old Elaine Stritch. If Betty can do it, so can she and here are the facts of my case.


Betty White was born in 1922
Elaine Stritch was born 1926.

Both lived through a World War.

Both were born in the Midwest.

They both have old time radio show chops.

They both started on the stage. Elaine on Broadway and Betty at the Bliss Hayden Little Theatre.

They both debuted on television in 1949. They both have played title and cameo characters since then including roles on the Cosby Show, Boston Legal, Oz and of course Golden Girls. In fact, Elaine was supposed to be on that show but she blew her audition to play Dorthy Zbornak. God bless Bea Arthur, but I have to say that would have been great casting as well.

They are both Emmy Award winners.

They've both done terrible movies. Sorry Betty but Lake Placid??? Elaine, come on. Monster-in-Law??? In the words of Amy and Seth... REALLY???!!????

They've both done Soap Opera work.

And most importantly they both have recently made their way back into the hearts and minds of pop culture fanatics. Those who love late night television, know that Betty White had staring segments on both Jay Leno and Craig Ferguson's shows. This allowed the actress best known for playing the passive and more than absent minded Rose Nyland to reintroduce herself as a comedienne of vintage age with a modern mouth.

On top of reoccurring roles in HBO's OZ and on the ever changing cast of Law and Order, those who love the award winning 30 Rock know Elaine Stritch best as Colleen Donaghy. She is the loud, obnoxious, pushy, pot-stirrer of a mother Alec Baldwin deals with on a weekly basis.

I mean the similarities are almost endless. Like the assassins of Abraham Lincoln and JFK. It is scary. So, though she is 4 years more sprightly than the lovely Betty White, I think Elaine deserves a shot at the stage that has been lucky enough to be under the feet of Steve Martin, Nancy Kerrigan, Al Gore and Charleton Heston. I mean Elaine would wipe the floor with Nancy Kerrigan. She is a trained actress for gosh sakes. So here is my plea. Elaine Stritch for SNL in 2011. Hell have her co-host with Alec. Steve Martin did it.